He said Meggy agreed to 'hand him over' in exchange for a fee at a meeting in Cafe de Akbar in Bradford on January 2 last year.

Amin and Kashif Tahir were described in court, respectively, as the two 'major' drug dealers' right-hand men at the meeting.

The 32-year-old, who lived with his family in Dewsbury before moving to Manchester when the court proceedings began, also said Meggy was a 'known police informant' and there were concerns he would 'set up' Mr Yaqub.

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David Butlin, of Meltham, jailed for 18 months (Image: West Yorkshire Police)

Mr Yaqub's boxing trainer David Butlin was acquitted of the conspiracy charge, but was convicted of possessing an offensive weapon, namely a push dagger, on the day of the meeting.

He was jailed for 18 months.

Mr Justice Turner said: "It is a matter for me ultimately to fill in the gaps that still remain upon the verdict of the jury."

The judge said Butlin 'feigned ignorance' and 'pretended to the jury' that the meeting was about 'some dodgy car deal', which was an 'overwhelmingly implausible' explanation.

He concluded that the 39-year-old, of Huddersfield Road in Holmfirth, took the push dagger with him on that day in anticipation of a fight.

The judge told the pair:

"You knew that Yassar Yaqub had a gun, which you both intended should be used in a way that endangered life in a preconceived and imminent way."

Abbas Lakha, mitigating for Amin, said it took courage for his client to give evidence in the trial, adding that there have already been incidents in the five days that he has been in custody.

He said there is no doubt that Amin has upset 'others who have extensive contacts within the prison system' and he will spend the beginning of his sentence in solitary confinement.

The court previously heard that Butlin has suffered from mental health problems since he was a teenager.

Rick Holland, mitigating for Butlin, said he has also suffered from PTSD since the shooting, which has caused him to be out of work.

Jodie Lofthouse, a probation officer, said the dad-of-five previously used drugs to stabilise his mood but no longer does.

Amin was driving the Audi A4 that Mr Yaqub was killed in on January 2 last year after four unmarked police cars surrounded the vehicle at junction 24 of the motorway in Huddersfield.

Leeds Crown Court heard how the officer saw Mr Yaqub starting to aim a weapon at him before firing three rounds at him.

Today, prosecutor Peter Moulson QC said:

"It is clear that the officer had no other option and did what was necessary to protect his or herself, his or her colleagues and members of the public on that busy slip road."

Speaking about Amin’s evidence during the trial, Mr Moulson said: "He resiled from any evidence that the police acted improperly."

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Sentencing Amin, the judge said his mistake was starting a WhatsApp conversation with 'another local criminal' - Raa/Waqqy, who Amin refused to identify.

The packed public gallery included the defendants' formerly co-accused Rexhino Arapaj, who was acquitted of the conspiracy charge; members of the Yaqub family; members of the Butlin family and members of the Amin family.

Gerry Wareham, chief prosecutor for CPS Yorkshire and Humber, said: "The jury found that Moshin Amin was a party to an agreement with Yassar Yaqub to possess the gun, silencer and ammunition for the purpose of endangering the lives of others.

"We were able to provide evidence to show that the background to this was an ongoing drug feud."

He added: "Today Moshin Amin will begin serving a lengthy prison sentence as a result of his involvement in organised criminality."

What next?

Detective Chief Superintendent Nick Wallen, of West Yorkshire Police's Major Enquiry Team, said: "We are extremely pleased with the findings of guilt and with the sentences which have been handed down today to these dangerous individuals who were involved in serious and organised crime.

"There is currently an ongoing investigation being undertaken by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and also a forthcoming inquest into the death of Mr Yaqub and therefore we will not be able to provide any further comment at this time."